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San Diego Hosts "America's Got Talent" Auditions

Auditions were held in San Diego on Jan. 12, 2016, for the upcoming season of "America's Got Talent." NBC 7's Greg Bledsoe speaks with some hopefuls looking for their shot at stardom. (Published Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016)

Do you have a special talent worthy of big bucks and TV time? If so, auditions for the upcoming season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” are headed to San Diego, and it may be your time to shine.

The hit television talent competition is holding open call auditions on Tuesday at the San Diego Convention Center located at 111 W. Harbor Dr. in downtown San Diego. The doors open at 7 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, hopefuls were already lining up at the Convention Center, awaiting their chance to show off their talent. A sign twirler and fire breather, plus many singers and dancers, were among the audition crowd.

One of the show's producers told NBC 7 that they expected about 1,000 people to show up to the open call in San Diego.

San Diego's "Got Talent"

According to the show’s website, those who are interested in auditioning should pre-register online and fill out all of their paperwork in advance of the open call. All aspiring contestants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at the audition, and need to fill out extra paperwork. Those trying out as part of an animal act will need to follow a few extra rules for their audition. Read the audition guidelines here.

San Diego is among the six remaining audition cities for “America’s Got Talent” ahead of the show’s season 11 premiere in summer 2016. After San Diego, auditions will head to Kansas City (Jan. 23), Atlanta (Jan. 30), Los Angeles (Feb. 6), Orlando (Feb. 19) and Dallas (Feb. 27).

When the new season premieres, the judge’s panel will include series regulars Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Mel B, plus a highly-anticipated, sharp-tongued addition: Simon Cowell.

Cowell created the show and is one of the executive producers but in his role as judge, that signature brutal honesty that made him famous is very likely to take center stage. Cowell replaces Howard Stern on the judging panel.

"America's Got Talent" is hosted by San Diego native Nick Cannon, a 1998 graduate of Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley.